Northern Plains Resource Council

I worked for Northern Plains back in the 1970s, when it was a farmer-rancher coalition concerned with strip mining, power plants and mineral development generally in Eastern Montana. It had huge power and moral force in those days, due to the unusual composition of its membership (mostly very conservative rural people). Today, NPRC is basically just another conservation group, made up largely of older, very liberal people and very few folks from agriculture. And it gets into political correctness sometimes, which I think is a real distraction. NPRC does some good work now, but it is a mere shadow of its former self.

Although I have been a member of the Northern Plains Resource Council for over three decades, I have been able to take on some volunteer work for them since I retired three years ago, and last year was invited to join the board as an at-large member. Since returning to Montana in the late 70's, I have served on a number of boards, ranging from the arts, the humanities, the media, education, to politics.

All these non-profit boards were well-staffed and attracted like-minded, committed citizens, but never have I served on a board that has been more worth my while. Both the staff and the members of the board and its various task forces are passionate, pragmatic and effective beyond anything I have ever experienced. Did I mention utterly selfless? They do their homework and they follow through. Everyone contributes and the teamwork is amazing. I feel my contributions are valued, but I also see great opportunities for learning and for growth, both through the mentoring I have received and through the workshops and training that are on-going.

The work we do has been much more than "a feel-good" experience. It has been challenging, demanding and, sometimes (when we prevail) very rewarding.

Thank you Northern Plains for your 40 + years of hard work seeking to have the voice of the people of this great state heard. As a board member I am privileged to watch the democratic process be alive and well. All the folks serving on the board are there because they know together our voices will be heard, starting with the board and then fanning out into actions that make a difference. Where else could we have such a great platform?

Billings, Montana is where I graduated from High School. After military service I came home to Billings and attended EMC. On one class outing we visited a ranch near a strip mine in southeast Montana. That outing would influence my career choice and values.

In the 1980s I began supporting the Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC) and I have tried to maintain my membership since then. A career and family obligations including college for our children did not leave much free time.

Since retiring I have time to do volunteer work. We who choose to live in Montana treasure our state’s beauty and environmental amenities, and we are stewards of this place we call home. NPRC and its affiliates serve the public good and for that reason I chose to volunteer with NPRC’s Sleeping Giant Citizens Council (SGCC) affiliate.

Since volunteering I have had the opportunity to better understand how NPRC achieves its mission and goals. NPRC (and affiliates) has a professional staff that responsibly manages its operations and finances. The staff’s good work allows members and volunteers to support and pursue those common goals about which we are passionate. It is a rewarding experience to collaborate with others to steward the land, water and air resources we inherited so that they can be shared with future generations.

Michael Lee
Helena, Montana
Sleeping Giant Citizens Council Board Member

If there ever was an efficient and effective organization, Northern Plains Resource Council is it!

I've been a member of this parent resource council in Montana for 16 years. Having moved to Red Lodge expecting clean air and water and wilderness at my door step, protecting these natural resources has been my passion and mission which exactly aligns with NPRC's mission.

We are all conservationists by nature, and this non-profit is run with maximum streamlined efficiency. Montana is a big state and there are many miles our staff and members need to drive to organize citizens for good causes and spending it on the safety of our members has been our main focus. We are exploring the technology available to conduct meetings and trainings online.

Things get done with NPRC and volunteer citizens are the ones who gain from this wonderful association.

As a Montana native, I’ve been enjoying Montana’s natural beauty and bounty all my life. As I’ve enjoyed all that nature has to offer here, I’ve strived to be a good steward by working to preserve the quality of our land, water and air for my children and grandchildren to enjoy, as I have enjoyed. The organization that best helps me to do this is Northern Plains Resource Council. Its mission and values are totally in-sync with mine own.

I learned about Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC) through a local state affiliate, Stillwater Protective Association (SPA). For over 40 years, NPRC has been helping Montanans help themselves. For my local affiliate, it worked tirelessly with us and another affiliate to hammer out a ground breaking Good Neighbor Agreement with Stillwater Mining Company. This agreement is legally binding and has proven the test of time for over 10 years now in ensuring the quality of our rural environment.

I personally have been volunteering my time and energy to this organization for 6 years now and have experienced its highly competent and effective staff’s support in helping members achieve results on many fronts, including leading the charge in trying to ensure big coal, gas and oil companies “do it right” in our backyards, that our state agencies follow and enforce their rules and policies, and that farmers and ranchers get a fair shake whenever Eminent Domain is invoked, to name a few goals.

This is also an organization that takes the time to define its mission, set goals and develop on-going 5 year plans. In one of these plans, it set a goal to own its own building. Wow, was this ever achieved – talk about walking the talk! Today we have Home of the Range (HOTR). To achieve this goal, NPRC purchased an uninsulated, old concrete block grocery store with few windows. The building was renovated to house energy-efficient, daylit offices and along the way earned an Energy Star Certified and U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2/v.2.1—Level of Platinum! What a tremendous accomplishment and one we are all very proud of achieving.

It is important to me to be involved with an organization with integrity, and one that is achieving results and growing its membership. Northern Plains Resource Council is the real deal!

Lana Sangmeister
NPRC Board Member
SPA Member